RM2.1 billion allocation to overcome Karak Highway congestion

KUALA TERENGGANU - The government has approved an RM2.1 billion allocation to improve Karak Highway by expanding lanes and building additional tunnels to overcome congestion issues users faced during festive seasons.

Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the construction works will be done by highway concession holders starting in July and is expected to be completed within three years.

“There are roughly two million vehicles using the passage to return home whether to Kelantan or Terengganu in the festive seasons.

“By expanding the lanes and building additional tunnels we expect this to help in overcoming congestion issues users often face on the highway.

“The Malaysian Highway Board (LLM) have released tenders for the construction works to be carried out along the highway,” he told reporters after officiating the Terengganu Malaysian Malay Contractors Association (PKMMT) General Meeting on Sunday.

Also present were Malaysian Malay Contractors Association (PKMM) president Datuk Seri Mohamed Fadzill Hassan and PKMMT Yang Dipertua Datuk Mohd Nasir Ibrahim Fikri.

He said road maintenance works were not encouraged to be carried out during the holiday season to reduce road congestions.

“Currently I wouldn’t encourage LLM to implement maintenance works throughout the festive seasons as it would disturb the flow of traffic towards the East Coast,” he said.